Meshech Weare Personal Papers
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Meshech Weare Papers NH.01 Finding aid prepared by Mylynda Gill This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit September 26, 2017 College Archives & Special Collections / Wallace E. Mason Library / Keene State College 229 Main Street MS 3201 Keene, New Hampshire, 03435 603-358-2717 [email protected] Meshech Weare Papers NH.01 Table of Contents Summary Information ................................................................................................................................. 4 Biographical/Historical note.......................................................................................................................... 5 Scope and Contents note............................................................................................................................... 5 Arrangement note...........................................................................................................................................6 Administrative Information .........................................................................................................................6 Collection Inventory...................................................................................................................................... 7 Accounts & Accounting Information......................................................................................................7 Charts & Illustrations.............................................................................................................................. 7 Church & Parish Records........................................................................................................................7 Committee of Safety................................................................................................................................8 Continental Congress/United States Congress........................................................................................ 9 Correspondence......................................................................................................................................10 Court Records and Legal Documents................................................................................................... 13 Governor Edward Cranfield.................................................................................................................. 14 Journals...................................................................................................................................................14 King George...........................................................................................................................................14 Military Records.................................................................................................................................... 15 Nathaniel Weare.....................................................................................................................................15 New Hampshire Province and State Government Records...................................................................16 Old Indexes of Collection..................................................................................................................... 16 Other Committees & Councils.............................................................................................................. 17 Other State Records...............................................................................................................................17 Tax Records........................................................................................................................................... 18 Town Records (New Hampshire)..........................................................................................................18 - Page 2 - Meshech Weare Papers NH.01 Undetermined.........................................................................................................................................20 - Page 3 - Meshech Weare Papers NH.01 Summary Information Repository College Archives & Special Collections / Wallace E. Mason Library / Keene State College Title Meshech Weare Papers Date 1637?-1781 Extent 4.0 Linear feet Language English - Page 4 - Meshech Weare Papers NH.01 Biographical/Historical note Meshech Weare is considered to be the first governor of the State of New Hampshire and was known as the "father of the his state". He was born on June 16, 1713, Meshech Weare was the son of Nathaniel Weare and his second wife, Mary Waite. He graduated from Harvard College in 1735. He began his political career in 1739 as town moderator for Hampton Falls. He was a representative of Hampton Falls in the General Assembly. He was also part of the New Hampshire House of Representatives, serving as both speaker and clerk. He was also one of the New Hampshire's delegates that attended the Albany Congress in 1754. In September 1772, Weare served as one of the four judges in the trial of those involved in the Pine Tree Riot, though the participants were found guilty the low fines they received inspired some other rebellious acts against the British government including the Boston Tea Party. Weare was also a leader in drafting the formal constitution that set of New Hampshire to become the first American State on January 5, 1776. Under this constitution, New Hampshire had no individual leader or executive but was run by the legislature. Executive power was appointed to the Committee of Safety, which had the power to act as an executive power when the legislature was not in session. Weare was appointed chairman of this Committee from 1776 to 1784 when it was disbanded. He also served in dual roles as the chief justice for the state's highest court the "Superior Court of Judicature" from 1776 to 1782 and as presiding officer of the Governor's Council from 1776-1784, then part of the upper house of the legislature. Upon the adoption of the second New Hampshire Constitution in 1784, Weare was elected as the first governor or at the time "president" of New Hampshire. He ran unopposed and was only able to serve one year before resigning due to poor health. He died only months later on January 14, 1786. He was 73 years old. Scope and Contents note The collection does span the 18th century to the early 19th century. The collection makes up approximately 3.5 to 4 linear feet. The materials in the collection are comprised of but not limited to correspondence, military records and reports, judicial papers such as bonds, warrants, testimonies, etc. There are also deeds, bills of sale, surveys, maps, charts , illustrations, and journals. There are also government documents that belong to New Hampshire before and after it became a state of America that are from various committees, boards, and councils. Additionally, there are government documents that came from the national level such as documents from England from King George and documents from the Continental Congress after America declared independence. - Page 5 - Meshech Weare Papers NH.01 Arrangement note The arrangement of the collection has been rearranged several times since its initial creation and it is unknown what the original order was at this point in time. The current arrangement is that the series are listed in alphabetical order and within the the series the materials are arranged chronologically. It is the hope that this arrangement will allow patrons to find documents more easily than past arrangements. Administrative Information Publication Information College Archives & Special Collections / Wallace E. Mason Library / Keene State College Appraisal The collection's contents are over two hundred years old therefore it is advised that all possible perservation techniques be used to ensure the longevity of the collection in the future. Some documents are currently being held together by scotch tape and need to be preserved in better ways. Existence and Location of Originals note The physical location of this collection is at the New Hampshire State Archives located in Concord, New Hampshire. There are digital copies available at Keene State College in Keene, New Hampshire. Digital copies are also available online at commons.keene.edu - Page 6 - Meshech Weare Papers NH.01 Accounts & Accounting Information Collection Inventory Accounts & Accounting Information 1765?-1776 Box 1 Folder 1: 1716-1808 Folder 2: No Dates Charts & Illustrations 1738, 1761 Box 1 Folder 1: 1738-1761, no date Church & Parish Records 1714-1780 Box 1 Folder 1: 1714-1763 Folder 2: 1764-1780 Folder 3: No Date - Page 7 - Meshech Weare Papers NH.01 Committee of Safety Committee of Safety 1776-1782, No Dates Box 3 July 1776- June 1779 Folder 1: July 1776- January 1778 Folder 2: Febraury 1778- May 1778 Folder 3: June 1778-July 1778 Folder 4: August 1778- October 1778 Folder 5: November 1778- March 1779 Folder 6: April 1779- June 1779 Box 4 July 1779-1782, no dates Folder 7: July 1779 Folder 8: Augist 1779- September 1779 Folder 9: 1781 Folder 10: 1782 Folder 11: Instructions to towns and responses (Part 1) - Page 8 - Meshech Weare Papers NH.01 Continental Congress/United States Congress Folder 12: Instructions to towns and responses (Part 2) Folder 13: No Date Continental Congress/United States Congress 1776-1781 Box 5 November 1776- June 1780 Folder 1: November 1776- March 1778 Folder 2: April 1778- October 1778 Folder 3: November 1778- July 1779 Folder 4: August 1779- March 1780 Folder 5: April 1780- June